Houseline help with puppies

Since my Border Collie puppy, Riff, came home I have had a houseline attached to his collar or harness whenever he is out of his safe area and I am able supervise him.

Why?

Because prevention is better than cure:

If he was free to roam he could be:

learning to bite my laces when I’m tying them

chasing my cat

putting his head in the fridge when I open the door

jumping up to greet people

rushing out through open doors

playbiting people

bothering my older collie, Braccy

falling in the pond

As a result of using the houseline to guide him he is learning to:

watch me tie my shoes

look at the cat and allow her to approach

watch me open and close the fridge

keep feet on the floor to meet people

keep teeth on toys

investigate the pond safely

not to play roughly with Braccy

How?

By preventing unwanted behaviour I can more easily guide and reward him for ‘good’ behaviour.

For example, when my cat comes in I stand on the line to keep the puppy still so that she can approach and investigate him in safety. If she moves away I reward him so that he is less likely to have the urge to go after her, which will make her run and will cause him to chase and learn a new game which will distress my cat.

This makes for a calmer household, I avoid having to rush after him, grab him, scoop him up or tell him off I can just stand on or lift up the line and he cannot go wrong